Distributing mechanism for electrical ignition systems.



0. HEINS 6I V. W. KLIESRATH.

DISTRIBUTING MECHANISNI FOR ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED Inhal. 1916.

1,226,658. Patented May 22, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I 0. HEINS & V. W. KLIESRATH.

DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICAL [ENIT SSSSSSSSS S.

ATTORNEIS UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

OTTO HEINS, OF NEW YORK, AND VICTOR W. KLIESBATH, OF PORT WASHIN GTON N EW l YORK, ASSIGNOBS TO BOSCH MAGNETO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

DISTBIBUTING MECHAN ISM FOR ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEMS.

Application led January 31, 1916. Serial No. 75,397.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, OTTO HEINs, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at New York city, county and State of New York, and VICTOR W. KLIESRATH, a citizen of the United States, residin at Port YVashington, county of Nassau, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distributing Mechanism for Electrical Ignition Systems; and we d0 hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The distributer in an electric ignition sys` tem embodying a magneto generally comprises a contact segment for each spari( plug of the internal combustion engine and a rotatable brush conducting the ignition current from the magneto t0 the Segments in turn. Where the engine has many cylinders, as for example twelve, such a distributer must be unduly large in diameter in order that each segment may have sufficient peripheral extent to provide for the required timing range and also a sufficient separation from-adjacent segments `to prevent simultaneous engagement by the brush. This objection has been overcome in the design of distributers for eight and twelve cylinder engines, by arranging the segments in two circular series and providing two rotatable brushes electrically connected to the two insulated terminals of the secondary winding of the magneto. In such arrangements, however, ignition sparks are produced simultaneously at two plugs in series, one spark occurring in that cyllnder which contains compressed gas ready to be ignited, and the other occurring 1n that cylinder which is exhaust-ing its burnt gases' or has just finished doing so, that is, Iat approximately 360 in its cycle from the cycle of the cylinder in which the other spark occurs. The spark occurring in the exhaust stroke does not interfere with the perforimince of the engine if there are only four or even six cylinders, but in engines of twelve or more cylinders and frequently in eight cylinder engines also, a variation 'of the valve setting, or the displacement thereof from the exact position on account of wear, may result 1n a second exploslon Specification orf Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

at some point of the timing ran e of the ignition system. In addition to t iis objection in cases of engines having eight or more cylinders, there is the objection to the system when applied to engines having any number of cylinders that this spark occurring in the exhaust stroke adds about 20% to the ignition voltage required for producing the other spark alone, thus necessitating a magneto of considerably larger size. Y

In accordance with our invention, a spark is produced at a single one of the spark plugs at each period of ignition, and if desired, the segments of the distributer may be arranged in two series, thereby eliminating the objectionable features introduced by the spark in the exhaust stroke, and also, in the preferred construction in application to engines of many cylinders, reducing the diameter of the distributer without unduly restricting the peripheral extent or the separation of the contact se ments thereof. We do this by providing an intermediate distributer which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current to a single one of the contact segments of the main dlstributer. In the preferred form of construction within this invention, the intermediate distributer is electrically connected to the two insulated terminals of the secondary Winding of the magneto and, at each period of ignition, grounds one terminal e of the secondary winding' and completes the electrical connection from the other terminal of the sem ondary winding Vto one of the contact segments of the main distributer, or where there are two series of contact segments and two brushes cooperative therewith, it completes the electrical connection to a single one of the brushes at that time. In this way, the ignition current Hows at each eriod of ignition from the secondary windlng to the insulated electrode of but one spark plug, and thence across the spark gap to the engine frame, from which it returns through the rounded structure and the intermediate istributer to the other terminal of the secondary winding. In case the segments of the main distributer are arranged in two series, the two brushes therefor may simultaneously engage segments of the two series, in which case one of the brushes is disconnected at that time at the "current, whereas the other brush is electrically connected by the intermediate distributer to the other terminal of the secondary winding, so that the spark plug connec to the segment engaging that brush is supplied with ignition current.

The accompanying drawings show the preferred form of our invention in application, as an example, to a magneto generating four ignition voltages per rotation,Y

and to a four-cycle internal combustion engine having twelve cylinders. In the drawlugs,

`Figure 1 is a central vertical section taken longitudinally of the magneto; Fig. 2 is a Section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram. A

The construction of the magneto proper and the mechanical interrupter is like that disclosed in the co-pending applicationof Otto Heins and Charles N. Wild, Serial No. 68841, filed December 27, 1915. The rotor of the magnets is the armature 1, which is of the ordinary shuttle type having primary and secondary windings, and which is mounted for rotation in the bearings 2. The stationary field member comprises two permanent magnets 4 and 5 of horse-shoe form arranged side by side along the aXis of the armature. The magnet 4 is wider than the magnet 5 and each has two diametrically-disposed pole shoes at right angles to the pole shoes of the other magnet. The arrangement is such that one axial portion of the polar projections of the armature bridges the spaces between the pole shoes of the magnet 4 twice in each rotation, whereas the remaining axial portion of the polar projections of the armature bridges the spaces between the pole shoes of magnet 5 twice in the same rotation, these periods occurring at 90 intervals in substantial coincidence with the period of interruption of the primary winding by the mechanical interrupter 6. In this way four substantially like ignition voltages are generated in the secondary Winding at 90 intervals in each rotation of the armature.

The two terminals of the secondary winding are connected respecti-vely to the axially-offset contact segments 7 and 7', which 'are embedded in the rings 8 of insulating material at diametrically opposite places, each segment having a peripheral extent of approximately 150. The segments 7 and 7 are carried by the armature for rotation therewith and successively engage the two sets of brushes 9, 9' and 10, 10', which sets are disposed diametrically opposite each other. The brushes 10, 10 are mounted in a metal brush holder 11 which grounds the brushes on theframe of the magneto. The

brushes 9, 9 are insulated from each other and are electrically connected to the respective brushes 12, 12', which are arranged to be driven through a two to three speed reduclng gearing formed by the pinion 13 on the armature and the gear 14 on the rotating shaft 15. The stationary contact segments '16 and 16 are disposed opposite each other 1n insulating material in two circular series, and the brushes 12 and 12 are so positioned that they simultaneously engage opposite segments of the two series. The contact segments are, in the usual way, connected to the insulated electrodes of the individual spark plugs, the other electrodes of the spark plugs being grounded on the engine frame.

`The segments 7, 7 and the cooperating brushes 9, 9', 10, 10' form an intermediate distributor between the generating winding 20 and the main distributer and are adapted to periodically interrupt the circuit therebetween but at each period of ignition to conduct the ignition current 'from the wind- 4 ing to a single one of the contact segments 16 or 16' of the main distributer by completing the circuit to ay single one of the brushes 12 or 12' thereof.

In this ignition system for a twelve-cylinder four-cycle engine, the shaft of the armature is driven by the engine at one and onehalf times crank shaft speed, and the rotatable brushes 12 and '12 are therefore driven at crank shaft speed, soA that for each 60 of rotation of the crank shaft, the magneto rotates through and generates one ignition voltage, while each main distributer brush 12 or 12' moves from one segment 16 or 16 to the next one of its series.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the primary Winding 17 is grounded on one side and is connected to the other side to the insulatedelement 18 of the mechanical interrupter 6, and thence to the grounded element 19,eXcept when the circuit of the primary winding is interrupted between these elements at each 90 of rotation of the armature. Thetwo terminals of the secondary winding 20 are insulated from the primary windin 17 and are electrically connected to the indlvidual contact segments 7, 7. The brushes of the intermediate distributer are so positioned that the opposite brushes 9 and 10 or 9 and 10, as the lcase may be, simultaneously engage the two contact. segments 7 and 7 In the position shown in Fig. 3, the left hand terminal of the secondary winding is connected to the ground through the contact segment 7 and the ground brush 10', whereas the electrical connection from the other terminal of the secondary winding to the rotating'brush 12 and the contact segment No. 1 of the main distributer is completed by reason of the en gagement of the segment 7 and the brush 9 of the intermediate distributer. The brush 12 then engaging the contact segment No. 7 is disconnected by reason of the disengagement between the segment 7 and the brush 9e of the intermediate distributer. The ignition current produced in the secondary winding at this period of ignition therefore flows to the insulated electrode of the spark plug connected to contact segment No. 1 and to no other spark plug. At the next period of ignition, which occurs when the armature has rotated through 90 from the position shown, the segments 7 and 7 are still in engagement with the brushes 9 and 10', and the brushes 9 and 10 are still out of engagement with those segments. The rotating brushes 12 and 12 will, in that part of the rotation, move through 60 into engagement with the contact segments Nos. 2 and 8, whereby the ignition current then produced in the secondary winding is again conducted to4 the brush 12 while the brush 12 is still discon` nected. The spark then occurs at the spark plug connected to the segment No. 2, and at no other spark plug. When the armature has rotated through another 90, the segments 7 and 7 aredisengaged from the brushes 9 and 10 and engaged with the other brushes 9 and 10, whereupon the brushes 12 and 12 engage the contact segments Nos. 3 and 9. The ignition current then flows to the spark plug connected to contact segment No. 3 and to no. other. After rotation of the `armature of 90 from this last position, the segments 7 and 7 are still in engagement with the brushes 9 and 10 and out of engagement with the other brushes 9 and 10', so that the ignition current produced at that period of ignition Hows to the spark plug connected to the contact segment No. 4 and to no other. It is now apparent that this o eration continues in such manner that the rush 12 conducts ignition current to two adjacent contact seg ments of one series 16, and then the other brush 12 conducts ignition currents to two adjacent segments of the other series 16', the

order being indicated by the numbers given` to the contact segments in Fig. 3. Thus it will be understood that in each two rotations of the engine, the magneto produces twelve ignition currents which are conducted to the twelve spark plugs in turn.

It will be apparent that in the specific arrangement shown herein, the magneto may be of any type in which four ignition currents are produced in each rotation of the armature. Also, in accordance with the broad ideas herein disclosed, the arrangement of the intermedia-te distributer and the main distributer may be modified, and may be used with ma etos producing more or less than four ignition currents per rotation, and with engines having more or less than twelve cylinders operating on the four-cycle or other principle.

What We claim is:

i 1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and a rotatable int/ermediate distributer which is electrically connected to the two terminals of the secondary winding, and which, at each period of ign1- tion, conducts the ignition current to a single one of said contact segments.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having contact segments electricallyr connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and a rotatable intermediate distributer which, at each period of ignition, grounds one terminal of the secondaryT winding and completes the electrical connection from' the other terminal of the secondary winding to a single one of said contact Segments. e 3'. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with insulated terminals, of distributing,

mechanism comprising a main distributer having stationary contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of the spark plugs, and rotatable brushes cooperative with the segments, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer which is electrically connected to the two terminals of the secondary winding, and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current to a single one of said brushes.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer having stationary contact segments electri- .cally connected to the insulated electrodes of distributer having contact segments electri cally connected to the spark plugs, and brushes coperative with the segments, and

also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto, and which, at each period of ignition, completes the electrical connection from the winding to a single one of the brushes,

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having a generating winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer having contact segments electrically connected to the spark plugs, and brushes cooperative with the segments, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from the winding to a single one of the contact segments.

'i'. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer rotatable at crank shaft speed and having two series of contact segments electricallyconnected to the insulated electrodes of the individual spark plugs, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from the secondary winding to a. single one of the contact Segments.

8. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer which is rotatable at crank shaft speed and which has two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of the individual spark plugs, and two brushes cooperative with the individual series of contact segments, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from the secondary winding to a single one of said brushes.

9. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary Winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of the spark plugs, and two brushes coperative with the individual series of contact segments, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate Vdistributer which is electrically connected to the two terminals of the secondary Winding, and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current to a single one of said brushes.

10. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary Winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two seriesof contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of the spark plugs, and two brushes coperative with the individual series of contact segments, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer which, at each period of ignition, grounds one terminal of the secondary Winding and completes the electrical connection from the other terminal of the secondary Winding to a single one of said brushes.

11. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs and two brushes simultaneously engaging the contact segments of the individual series, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer which is electrically connected to the secondary winding and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current to a single one of said brushes.

12. The combination with an internal combastion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs and two brushes simultaneously engaging the contact segments of the individual series, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer which, at each period of ignition, grounds one terminal of the secondary winding and completes the electrical connection from the other terminal of the secondary winding to a single one of said brushes. i

13. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer havin two series of contact segments electrica l connected to the insulated electrodes of tlie spark plugs, and two brushes simultaneously engaging the contact segments of the individual series, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer having axially-offset segments electrically connected to the two terminals of the secondary winding, and two sets of. brushes coperative with the segments of the intermediate distributer, the brushes of one of said sets bein grounded and the brushes of the other o said sets being electrically connected to the two brushes of the main distributer.

1.4. The combination with a four-cycle iny, 'in two series of six segments, each of which ternal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributor geared to run at crank shaft speed, and having two series of contact segments electricall connected to the insulated electrodes of in ividual spark plu s, and also comprising a rotatable interme iate distributor which is electrically connected to the secondary winding, and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from the secondary winding to a single one of said contact segments.

15. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer geared to run at crank shaft speed, and having two series of contact segments electricall connected to the insulated electrodes of m ividual s ark plugs, and also comprising an interme iate distributer mounted on the rotatable element of the magneto, said intermediate distributor bein electrically connected tothe secondary win ing, and, at each period of ignition, conducting the ignition current to a single one of said contact segments.

16. The combination with a twelve-cylinder four-cycle internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs and a fourpole magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer rotatable at crank shaft -speed and having contact segments arranged is electrically connected to the insulated electrode of an individual spark plugand also omprising a rotatable interme ate disributer which is electrically connected to the secondary winding, and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current to a single one of the contact segments, said intermediate distributer being rotatable at the s eed of the rotor of the magneto.

17. Tiie combination with a. twelve-cylinder internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a four-pole magneto having a secondary Winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer having contact segments arranged in two series of six segments, each of which is electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of an individual spark plu and also comprising a rotatable intcrmedlate distributer which,

at each period of ignition, grounds one terminal of the secondary windlng and completes the electrical connection from the other terminal of the secondary winding to a single one of said contact segments.

18. The combination with a twelve-cylinder four-cycle internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a fourpole magneto having a secondary winding with insulated terminals, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributor rotatable at crank shaft speed and havin contact segments arranged in two series o six segments, each of which is electrically connected to the insulated electrode of an. individual spark plug, and also comprising an intermediate dlstributer which is rotatable at the speed of the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, grounds one terminal of the secondary windlng and completes the electrical connection from the other terminal of the secondary winding to a single one of said contact segments.

19. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer which is electrically connected to the secondary winding, and which conducts the successive ignition currents to two adjacent segments of one series and thon to two segments of the other series.

20. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributor having two series of contact segments electrica ly connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributor which is electrically connected Ato the secondary winding, and which, in each two rotations of the main distributer, conducts an ignition current to each of said contact segments in turn.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures.

OTTO HEINS. VICTOR W. KLIESRATH.

Correctlons ln Letters PatentNo. l ,226,658.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,226,658, granted May 22, 197, upon the application of Otto Heins, of New York, and Victor W. Kliesrath, of Port Washington, New York, for an improvement in Distributing Mechanism for Electrical Ignition Systems, erroljs appear in the printed specification requiring correction'as follows: Page 2, line 26, for the word magnets read magneto; page 5, line 54, claim 17, for the Word electrodes read electrode; and -that the said Letters Patent should be read .with these cori'ections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. M l

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of July, A. D., 1917.

F. W. H. CLAY,

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